Page 107 of Savior
“Um…” Vanna stammers, tucking a tendril of her hair behind her ear as she bends slightly, speaking quietly to Maddie. “Yes, I do. How did you know?”
“Uncle Dean say’s I’m a very perceptive girl.” She states. “It’s in Uncle Dean’s eyes. You should tell him to wear his sunglasses more or he’s going to keep blowing up your spot.” Maddie says, as if she’s giving Vanna some major tip about life. “Anyway, it was nice to see you again.” Maddie reaches her arms up towards Vanna. Vanna crouches a little lower to allow Maddie to actually hug her this time.
“It was so nice getting to see you again, too, Maddie. Thank you for inviting me along to get ice-cream.” Vanna smiles, hugging her back.
Maddie releases her and returns to my side, taking my hand again.
“You’ll stay with the bike?” I look at Vanna. It’s more so a reminder, than it is a question.
She nods.
Lucinda’s dressed as if she’s in mourning. Her blonde hair, usually styled, hangs limply around her shoulders. No jewelry. What she’s wearing is far more conservative than her usual attire, and she’s topped the whole dramatic look off with a pair of big, black, Audrey Hepburn style sunglasses. Which hide a majority of her sullen looking face from me.
I could throw her further than I would ever trust her again. Using Maddie, thinking she’s going to soften me up. This sorrowful act… This fucking disguise to manipulate me… I feel nothing but contempt for this woman.
Turning to Maddie, I kneel to hug her once more, before her Aunt leads her away to the playground, so her mother and I can talk in private. We exchange our I love you’s before we’re parted… for who knows how long, once again.
Lucinda stands up from the table as I approach her, now that Maddie is out of range. Her down turned lips quivering as a mascara tainted tear rolls down her cheek from beneath those big sunglasses.
“Dean…” she whimpers my name.
Once upon a time, I’d have felt something at the sight of her tears. I feel nothing now.
“Save it.” I reply coolly. “What you did, is beyond redemption… And then trying to guilt me with Maddie again? To say you’re on thin ice, would be a lie. You’re sinking, Lucinda. And I’m all out of fucks for you.”
“I didn’t know any of that was going to happen.” She full on sobs now, attempting to reach for me, but I take a step back, glaring at her. “Legion… It was all him, Dean. I swear to you.”
“You read the file. You knew everything you needed to know to reach out to Jack Nero. And you did. I found your trademark stationary in that house… Vanna’s address written in your own hand. If you were innocent, why have you been hiding from me? I’ve never gotten violent with you before. The guilty try to run, Lucinda.”
She shakes her head wildly. “I never sent it to Jack. I promise you, Dean. It was Legion… He’s the one that reached out to Jack. All I did was give the address to Legion.”
I continue to glare at her. There’s no way of knowing if she’s telling me the truth or not, though I do know he’s involved.
“What would possess you to even give that information to Legion? Did he ask you for it?”
“He said he would help me get her away from you… I thought he’d just have his guys scare her off… I had no idea, Dean… I’m sorry. I had no idea what was going to happen, until it happened… I went to stay with my cousin in Tennessee as soon as I knew you were going to be alright… I knew I would be your prime suspect, because of what I did the night of the fundraiser rally… But I wasn’t the one who gave that information to Jack Nero.” I can’t help but glare at her skeptically. She lets out another sigh. “I thought about it, okay? Hell, part of me really wanted to. But I didn’t, Dean. It was Legion.”
All I can do is shake my head at her. Her jealousy. Her manipulation. Her selfishness truly knows no bounds.
“Your brother, Daniel…” she begins to say, then hesitates, shifting in her heels.
“What the fuck about my brother? How is he involved in this?”
“He needs your help. He needs to get away from the Demons. When everything… happened… He had a change of heart. You almost…” she chokes back a sob, bringing a manicured hand to her mouth for a moment, then continues, “Death, it puts things into perspective... Almost losing you… He changed. And he’s your family, Dean. The other crews are loyal to you… They won’t take him in.” she says, taking me a little by surprise. Though I shouldn’t be. It’s classic Lucinda. Always wanting something from me, even when she’s dead wrong.
I scoff at her. “Why would I lift a finger to help Daniel?”
“Because he’s your brother. And he can’t just leave the Demons. He needs a crew to go to, to back him. To protect him.”
“He made his bed.” I bitterly growl. And fucked my wife in it.
“He’s still your brother, Dean. And for whatever it’s worth, he regrets everything. We’re not even together anymore.” She says, showing me her ringless left hand. “Let your brother back into your life.”
“You’re in no position to ask anything of me, ever again. And neither is he.”
“Then do it for Maddie. Save Maddie’s father. Take him in as a prospect… anything.” She pleads. “We’ve all made mistakes.”
“That’s a fuckin’ understatement if I’ve ever heard one.” I mutter. But I’m not here to rehash family history. “Where is Legion holed up?”
